Fire-ladder apparatus



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. D. BARNES.

FIRE LADDER APPARATUS. No. 556,088.- Patented J an. 18, 1887.

. z W 6 W WITNESS/58 llVl/E/VTOI? (No Model.)

- v 4 ShetsSheet 2. D. BARNES.

FIRE LADDER APPARATUS.

No. 356,088. Patented Jan. 18,1887.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS WITNESSES:

(No Model.)

4 Sheets Sheet 3. D. BARNES.

FIRE LADDER APPARATUS.

No. 356,088 Patented Jan.-18, 1887.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS WITNESSES v, FEIEHS. Pholo-Lilhogmpher, Washinglan. o. c.

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4;. D. BARNES.

FIRE LADDER APPARATUS.

No. 356,088. Patented Jan. 18, 1887.

lnlll Ill u .2

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS N. PETERS Phn!o L|lhogmphur. Waillinglull. n. c.

STATES DAVID BARNES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-LADDER APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 356,088, dated January 18, 1887.

Application filed April 24, 1886. Serial No. 200,074. (No model.)

zen of the United States, residing at Chicago,

in the county of Cook and: State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Fire-Ladder Apparatus, of which I do declare the following to beafull, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My present invention has relation to that class of fire-ladder apparatus commonly employed by the hook-and-ladder companies of fire departments, and I particularly does it relate to the improvement of that class of apparatus wherein the main truck that carries the ladders is provided with a turn-table and a standard whereon an extension-ladder is pivotally mounted,and with means whereby such ladder can be quickly raised and swung into position for use.

One object of my present invention is to improve the construction of steering apparatus for the truck-frame, and this object I accomends of which the usual crank-arms will be In this connection my invention also consists in pivotally connecting the end of the screwshaft with the end of the main ladder and in mounting the threaded sleeve for such shaft in swivel-bearings.

My invention also consists in combining with the screw-shaft suitable driving-shafts extending to the sides of the main truckframe and to the front end thereof, so thatthe laddercan be elevated by operating the side shafts when the main truck is in such position that the end shafts cannot be conveniently worked, and vice versa.

In the construction of this class of appa- 7 ratus it is customary tomount upon the main ladder an extension-ladder adapted to slide upon the main ladder and to be brought to its highest position thereon after such main ladder has been lifted by means of an'e'ndless chain or of a liftiug-cable that is wound upon a drum, the movement of which is effected by a suitable crank-shaft.

A further object of my invention is to provide the extension-ladder with the improved construction of safety-catch hereinafter described,which, in event of the breakage of the endless chain or of the lifting-cable,will certainly prevent the dropping of the extensionladder.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction of safety-catch hereinafter described,and particularly pointed out in the claims atthe end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a view in vertical longitudinal section on line at w of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the rear portion of the main truckframe, parts being removed for the purpose ofbetter illustration. Fig. 3 is a View in side elevation of a fire-ladder truck embodying my invention. Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the front portion of the main truckframe, showing the main ladder mounted upon the turn-table and its standard and' my improved mechanism for effecting the raising of this ladder.

in raised position. Fig. 6 is aview in vertical section 011 line 9 y of Fig. 5. Fig 7 is a plan View of the parts shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the main and extension ladders and the safety-catch, parts being shown insection. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but with the lifting-cable broken and the safety-catch in position to prevent the descent of the extension-ladder. Fig. 10 is a view in transverse section on line z z of Fig. 9.

A designates the .main truck-frame, to the underside of the rear portion of which is fixed a suitable plate, a, through which passes the king-bolt B, that serves to pivotally connect the rear truck, B, with the main frame. The

threaded end of the bolt 13 enters a suitable seat in the cross-bar b of the rear truck,.upon which is mounted a turning ring, I), whereon the plate a of the main frame bears.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the parts shown in Fig. 4, the main ladder being brackets-B to which is bolted the frame of the segmental rack-bar C, the teeth or cogs of this rack-bar being arranged in an approximately horizontal plane. In suitable bearings, d and d, at the rear of the main frame is journaled the steering-shaft D, the inner end of this shaft being provided with the pinion D, that meshes with the segmental rack-bar, and the opposite end of this shaft being furnished with the hand -whee], similar in construction to the rudder-wheel of a ship. To thev rear end of the main truck-frame A is bolted the operators support or stand E, the bottom of which extends below the main frame a sufficient distance to bring the hand-wheel D within convenient reach, and this support E is preferably furnishedwith a seat, 6, and with stay-rods E,

extending from the top thereof to the side bars of the main frame, as seen in Fig. 3. y

In placing the ladders upon the main frame it is usual to arrange the short ladders at the bottom, and the longerladders above-the same upon the cross-bars that extend between the side bars, A, of the main frame, so that the ladders which project beyond the rear end of the truck will be at some distance above the head of the operator when upon his support or stand E. From the foregoing construction ofparts it will be seen that the operator by means of the hand-wheel D can readily shift the position of the rear truck, B, for the purpose of turning curves of street intersections. By arranging the steering-shaft D in horizontal position, and by extending this shaft to the rear of the main frame, I am enabled not only to provide a better and more readily accessible stand for the operator, but also to avoid the interference of this shaft with the removal,

of the ladders, as is the case in constructions where the shaft is arranged in vertical posi- 1 tion upon the main frame.

Upon the forward portion of the main truckframe is mounted in suitable manner the turntable F, from which rises the side brackets, F, .,whereon is pivotally sustained, as at f, the main ladder G, the front or lower end of this ladder extendinga short distance beyond the pivotal points to the front of the'main frame.

To the end of the main ladder G is pivotally connected, as at g, the-arms h of the yoke-bar H, the rear end of this bar being joined to or formed in piece with the screw-shaft I, which extends backward beneath the main ladder. Upon the screw-shaft I is fitted the correspondingly-threaded sleeve K, the ends of which are journaled in suitable bearings in the sides of the box-frame L, through which the screwshaft passes, and which is sustained between the journal-brackets F, that are bolted, as shown, to the turn-table. Upon this sleeve K is formed the bull-pinion or sleevepinion K, which serves to impart movement to'the sleeve and by means of it to the screw-shaft, and meshing with-this pinion K are the gear-pinions m andm, which are keyed, respectively,'to the inner ends of the driveshafts M and M. These shafts M and M extend through the journal brackets F and through the ends of the bearing-box L, which box is formed in sections, as shown in Fig. 5, bolted together at Z, and is held upon the drive-shafts M and M in such manner as to swivel or turn thereon. My purpose in sustaining the sleeve K in the swivel-bearing box is to permit said sleeve to accommodate itself to the movement of the screw-shaft, as this shaft shifts from an inclined to a horizontal position in the operation of raising the ladder. Upon the outer ends of the driving-shafts M and M suitable crank handles will be placed when the shafts are to be turned for the purpose of operating the main screwshaft. Upon each of the driveshaft-s M and M will be fixed the gear-pinions m and with these pinions will mesh the gear-pinions m" of the drive-shafts N and N. These drive-shafts N and N are journaled' in the brackets n and extend across the turn-table F to the front-of the main truck-frame, their outer ends being squared to receive crank-handles by which the shafts will be operated. From the foregoing construction it will be seen that when power is applied to eithcrthe drive-shafts M and M or N and N the bullpinion or sleeve-pinion K will be caused to revolve, and it in turn will move the threaded sleeve K and by means of it the screw-shaft I. Assuming the parts to bein the relative position shown in Fig. 4, it will be apparent that if the threaded sleeve K is caused to revolve by means of either of the drive-shafts this sleeve will in turn draw downwardly and backwardly the screw-shaft I until such shaft assumes a substantially horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 6, at which time the main ladder will be completely raised. movement of the shaft I theslecve K is shifted from an oblique to a horizontal position, such movement being permitted by reason of the swiveled box-frame L, within which this sleeve is sustained.

My purpose in extending the drive-shafts M and M to the sides of the main frame, in addition to the shafts N and N, extending to the end thereof, is to afford a ready means for operating the screw-shaft in case the main truck-frame be so placed with respect to adjacent buildings that the driveshafts N and Ncannot be conveniently operated. A further advantage incident to such arrangement is that it affords a means for morequickly operating the screw-shaft in raising the ladder. In Figs. 8, 9, and 10 of the drawings is illustrated my improved safety-catch for preventing accidents in event of the breakage of the cable by which the extension-ladder is raised upon the main ladder. This extension- In theladder O is held on the main ladder in the H held the rod 0 of the safety-catch It, this rod being provided with the coil-spring r, the up: per end of which bears against the top of the barrel 1?, while the lower end bears against the washer r fastened to the end of the rod 1'.

Tothe sides ofthe body R of the safety-catch are pivotally connected, as shown at T the dogs or pawls R, the outer ends of which pass through suit-able slots, 0 in the sides of the extension-ladder O, and a're of sufficient length to enter the catch-seats g in the sides of the main ladder G when the safety-catch is in the retracted position shown in Fig. 9. Suitable slots, T are formed in the pawls R to receive the guard-pins s of the brackets S, which are fastened to the extension -ladder, and upon which the strain is thrown when the cable T is operating to lift the ladder, as shown in Fig.

8. The cable T, which passes over the pulley T, affixed to the top of the main ladder, has one of its ends connected by means of the plate tto the body of the safety-eatclrR, while its opposite end is connected to the winding-drum U, that is journaled upon a suitable shaft sustained by the ladder-brackets F of the turntable. At one end of this wiudingdrum U is fixed the gear-wheel a, which engageswith the gear-wheelo, that is keyed to the winding-shaft V, journaled within suitable bearings, 1;, upon the inner side of the main ladder. The ends of the winding-shaft V are squared to receive the usual crank-handles, and upon the shaft is keyed the ratchet -wheel o, with which will engage the pivoted pawl v which serves to,

check the backward movement of the drum, and consequently holds the extension-ladder at any desired height.

From the foregoing construction it will be seen by reference to Fig. 8 of the drawings that in the operation of winding the cable T upon the drum U, for the purpose of raising the extension-ladder, the dogs or pawls R ofthe safety-catch R are so retracted that their ends will not engage with the catch-seats g of" the main ladder, the weight of the extensionladder as it is raised being borne upon the pins 8 of the bracket-plates S and by the dogs or pawls B. So long as the weight-of the extension-ladder, either as the same is raised or lowered, is upon the cable T, the dogs or pawls R of the safety-catch will continue to be held in the retracted position. If, however, the cable T is severed or broken from any cause, the spiral spring 1" within the barrel 1? will retract the safety-catch, as shown in Fig. 9, and cause the ends of the dogs or pawls It to V be thrust-outwardly into such position that they will enter the catch-seats g of the main ladder, and will thus serve to arrest the further descent of the extension-ladder.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isg Y 1. In fire-ladder apparatus,the combination, with the rear truck and the truck-frame pivotally mounted thereon, of the segment-gear G, the frame 0, affixed to the truck, the cogwheel D, engaging with the segment-gear, the horizontal shaft D, journal-bearings on the main frame for said shaft, and the hand-wheel for said shaft, all substantially as described.

2. In fireladder apparatus,the combination, with the truck-frame, the lad der-standard, and the ladder pivotally mounted upon said standard, of a screw-shaft pivotally connected with the end of the ladder, a threaded sleeve for said shaft, and suitable mechanism for imparting movement to said sleeve, substantially as described.

3. In fire-ladder apparatus, the combination, with the truck-fra1ne, the ladder-standard, and the ladder pivot-ally sustained upon said stand-' ard, of a screw-shaft pivotally connected with the end of the ladder, athreaded sleeve for said shaft, a pinion for imparting movement to said sleeve, and suitable driving-shafts in gear with said pinion, substantially as described. I

In fire-ladder apparatus,the combination, with the truck-frame, the ladder-standard, and

the ladder pivotally sustained upon said standard, of a screw-shaft having one end pivotal] y connected with the end of theladder,athreadcd sleeve for said shaft mounted in swivel-bearings, a pinion on said sleeve for imparting movement thereto, and a driving-shaft geared to said sleeve pinion, substantially as described.

5. In fire-ladder apparatus, the combination, with the truck-frame, the ladder-standard,and the ladder pivotally sustained on said standard, of the screwshaft I, connected to the end of the ladder, the threaded sleeve K, the swiveled box-frame L, wherein said sleeve is held, the pinion K 011 said sleeve, the driveshafts M and M, and the gear-pinions m and m, substantially as described.

6. In fire-ladder apparatusthe combination, with the truck-frame, theladder-standard, and the ladder pi'votally sustained on said standard, of the yoke-frame II, pivoted to the end of the ladder, the screw-shaft I, connected to pinion K thereon, the swiveled bearing-box for said sleeve, and a suitable drive-shaft in gear with the sleeve-pinion K, substantially as described.

7. In fire-ladder apparatus,the combination, with the truclpframe, the ladder-standard, and the ladder pivotally sustained thereon, of a screw-shaft for turning said ladder about its pivotal point, and driveshafts in gear with said screw-shaft and extending to both front and sides of the truck-frame, substantially as described.

8. In fire-ladder apparatus,the combination, with the truclnfram'e, the ladder-standard, and the ladder pivotally sustained upon said standard, of a screw-shaft connected with the end of the ladder, a threaded sleeve, and a sleeve-pinion for said shaft, the drive-shafts M and M in gear with the sleeve-pinion, the pinions m and m" upon said shafts, and the drive-shafts N and N, geared to the pinions in and m and extending to the front of the trnck-frame, substanrods r, the coil-spring r, and the barrel 1?, tially' as described.

9. In fire-ladder apparatus the combination with the main ladder, the extension-ladder er I DAVID BARNES substantially as described.

5 ranged to slide thereon, and the lifting-cable, 0f the safety-catch R, having the pivoted pawls or arms R, with slots 1* therein, the pins 5, the

Witnesses:

G110. P. FISHER, J r., JAMES H. PEIRCE. 

